| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 600141000 | Articulated segments | 63 |
| 20080249364 | ENDOSCOPIC INSTRUMENT - An endoscopic instrument having a flexibly designed tube shank is provided in which the tube shank is formed of several tube sections connected to one another in an articulated manner. Two adjacent tube sections are respectively connected to one another, in additional to the articulated connection ( | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080255422 | MEDICAL DEVICE - A medical instrument which is inserted into a body cavity includes: an insertion part which has a bending part capable of bending in a predetermined range; a plurality of joint rings which are provided in the bending part and are connected to each other in the axial direction of the insertion part; a manipulating part which manipulates the bending part; and a wire which is inserted into the plurality of the joint rings and connects the bending part with the manipulating part, wherein: the plurality of the joint rings comprises a connecting part, a portion of which is provided so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface and which is connected to the joint ring of the distal side in the axial direction of the insertion part and a connected part which is connected to the joint ring of the proximal side in the axial direction of the insertion part; the connecting part has a linear cross section orthogonal to the axis of the joint ring, and a curved base portion which is a portion of the connecting part protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the joint ring and has no corner; and end portions of the connecting part in the circumferential direction are formed so as to contact with the base portion at the end surface of the distal side of the joint ring. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080269561 | ENDOSCOPIC IMAGING SYSTEM - An endoscopic imaging system includes a reusable control cabinet having a number of actuators that control the orientation of a lightweight endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope is used with a single patient and is then disposed. The endoscope includes an illumination mechanism, an image sensor and an elongate shaft having one or more lumens located therein. A polymeric articulation joint at the distal end of the endoscope allows the distal end to be oriented by the control cabinet. The endoscope is coated with a hydrophilic coating that reduces its coefficient of friction and because it is lightweight, requires less force to advance it to a desired location within a patient. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080287741 | ARTICULATING TORQUEABLE HOLLOW DEVICE - An articulating mechanism for use in a medical device, such as an endoscope or a catheter, includes a series of stacked links disposed adjacent to one another and movable with respect to each other. Each link includes a front face tapered to a pair of pivot points and a rear face defining a wedge shaped recess for receiving the pivot points of the adjacent link. Pull-wires provide tension and hold the staked links together while also allowing for controlled bending of the distal portion by movement of one or more of the pull-wires. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080300461 | Endoscopic Device - An endoscopic surgical instrument for performing a procedure inside a patient. The instrument includes a handle assembly including a grip for holding the instrument and controls for controlling movement of the instrument. An elongate shaft having a grip end is mounted on the handle assembly. The shaft has a working end opposite the grip end. The shaft has a proximal portion adjacent the grip end and a distal portion adjacent the working end. The proximal portion has a centerline and is selectively rotatable with respect to the handle assembly. The distal portion has a centerline and is selectively articulatable relative to the proximal portion of the shaft. The instrument includes an end effector mounted on the working end of the elongate shaft. The end effector is selectively rotatable about the distal portion of the shaft. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20090012364 | Endoscopic Insertion Portion and Manufacturing Method Thereof - A method of manufacturing an endoscopic insertion portion with high manufacturing efficiency is provided. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090054733 | Articulating Endoscope Instrument - An endoscopic surgical instrument is provided that includes a handle portion, an elongated middle portion, an articulating portion and a tool portion. The tool portion is steerable by control mechanisms disposed on the handle portion which are accessible to a single hand of a user of the endoscopic surgical instrument. The endoscopic surgical instrument is advantageously employed in a variety of endoscopic surgical techniques, including transgastric or transluminal surgery. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090124857 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RIGIDIZING FLEXIBLE MEDICAL IMPLEMENTS - A flexible steerable device comprising a plurality of interconnected segments configured to pivot relative to each other, each of the plurality of segments having a cavity disposed therein. The device also includes a flexible tube disposed within the cavities of the plurality of segments. The flexible tube includes at least one rigidizing chamber having fusible material disposed therein, wherein upon varying temperature of the fusible material, the fusible material shifts between a first state in which the flexible steerable device is flexible and a second state in which the flexible steerable device is rigidized. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090171160 | ENDOSCOPE MAIN BODY AND ENDOSCOPE - An endoscope main body constituting an endoscope in a state in which an elongated detachable observation optical system is attached to the endoscope main body, and in a proximal end of an insertion section of the endoscope main body, a branch member is disposed. The branch member is provided so that a first extended section and a second extended section are branched from each other and thereby first and second operating sections are separately arranged. Furthermore, the branch member has an opening as an inlet which guides an imaging module in a distal end of the observation optical system to a hard portion of the insertion section. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090177040 | Instrument shaft - A shaft for a flexible endoscopic instrument is provided in which the shaft comprises a generally tubular frame member, the tubular frame member providing the shaft with at least one flexible section along the length of the shaft, the flexible section having a greater flexibility than at least one other section of the shaft. The flexible section of the shaft has a proximal end and a distal end, and is provided with first and second series of slots, the slots of the first series alternating with the slots of the second series to form an offset pattern of staggered slots in the frame member to provide the different stiffness properties. Each of the slots in a selected one of either the first or second series of slots is of a different length as compared to other slots in that series of slots, the slots in the selected series varying in length according to a predetermined progression, such that the flexible section is designed to deflect in a controlled and predetermined manner. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090318765 | ENDOSCOPE - An endoscopic insertion tube is composed of an elongated flexible tube section, an articular section and a rigid tip end section in series from a proximal end which is connected to a manipulating head grip. At least an illumination window and an endoscopic observation window are provided on a distal end face of the rigid tip end section which is tapered off gradually from its proximal end on the side of the articular section, i.e., the thickest portion of the insertion tube. A transitional section which is provided between the articular section and the flexible tube section is tapered off in an inverse direction, gradually from the articular section toward the elongated flexible tube section. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090326325 | MULTIJOINTED BENDING MECHANISM AND MULTIJOINTED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT HAVING MULTIJOINTED BENDING MECHANISM - A multijointed bending mechanism having a first bending piece, a second bending piece connected to the first bending piece so as to be rotatable around a first rotation shaft, a third bending piece connected to the second bending piece so as to be rotatable around a second rotation shaft, at least two first wires connected to the first bending piece to rotate the first bending piece and at least two second wires connected to the second bending piece to rotate the second bending piece. The second wires are disposed inwards of the first wires with respect to a vertical direction of the first and second rotation shafts. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100004508 | MULTIJOINTED BENDING MECHANISM AND MULTIJOINTED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT HAVING MULTIJOINTED BENDING MECHANISM - A multijointed bending mechanism having a first bending piece, a second bending piece connected to the first bending piece so as to be rotatable around a first rotation shaft, a third bending piece connected to the second bending piece so as to be rotatable around a second rotation shaft, at least two first wires connected to the first bending piece to rotate the first bending piece and at least two second wires connected to the second bending piece to rotate the second bending piece. The first wires are disposed inwards of the second wires with respect to a vertical direction of the first and second rotation shafts. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100004509 | MULTIJOINTED BENDING MECHANISM AND MULTIJOINTED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT HAVING MULTIJOINTED BENDING MECHANISM - A multijointed bending mechanism having a first bending piece, a second bending piece connected to the first bending piece so as to be rotatable around a first rotation shaft, a third bending piece connected to the second bending piece so as to be rotatable around a second rotation shaft, at least two first wires connected to the first bending piece to rotate the first bending piece and at least two second wires connected to the second bending piece to rotate the second bending piece. The first wires and the second wires are disposed concentrically with respect to a vertical direction of the first rotation shaft and the second rotation shaft. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100048999 | VIDEO ENDOSCOPE - A video endoscope system includes a reusable control cabinet and an endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope may be used with a single patient and then disposed. The endoscope includes an illumination mechanism, an image sensor, and an elongate shaft having one or more lumens located therein. An articulation joint at the distal end of the endoscope allows the distal end to be oriented by the actuators in the control cabinet or actuators in a control handle of the endoscope. Fluidics, electrical, navigation, image, display and data entry controls are integrated into the system along with other accessories. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100121151 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR STEERABLE MEDICAL DEVICE PATH DEFINITION AND FOLLOWING DURING INSERTION AND RETRACTION - Waypoints for a steerable medical device are stored as the steerable medical device is moved within a patient. The stored waypoints are an ordered sequence of locations. The ordered sequence of locations defines a safe path within the patient for moving an articulatable portion of the steerable medical device. The articulatable portion of the steerable medical device is constrained to follow the safe path as the articulatable portion moves within the patient. For example, the articulatable portion of the steerable medical device is constrained to remain within a boundary region enclosing the safe path as the articulatable portion of the steerable medical device follows the safe path. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100130823 | Endoscope - An endoscope has a bendable portion configured to be operated to be bent within one plane which is parallel to an axial direction of an endoscope insertion part | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100160735 | STEERABLE SURGICAL ACCESS DEVICES AND METHODS - Methods and devices are provided for controlling movement of a working end of a surgical device configured to be introduced into a body. In one embodiment, a surgical device is provided including a cannulated elongate shaft having a distal working end with a flexible steering platform. The flexible steering platform can includes a plurality of axially aligned links and a plurality of flexible connector elements. Adjacent links can be connected using at least two of the connector elements such that flexing one or more connector elements can bend the steering platform in one or more directions. The surgical device's shaft can be configured to receive a flexible surgical instrument therein such that a working end of the surgical instrument can be received within the steering platform, thereby allowing movement of the surgical instrument's working end to be controlled through movement of the steering platform. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100191058 | ENDOSCOPE - An endoscope includes a manipulation unit, and an insertion unit which is disposed in continuation to the manipulation unit. The insertion unit contains a bending portion which has a plurality of articulation wheels coupled in succession, two adjacent ones of the articulation wheels being coupled by a shaft member so as to be relatively turnable around the shaft member which crosses the center axis of the bending portion, the bending portion being bent in such a way that a wire which leads to the manipulation unit via the plurality of articulation wheels is tractively manipulated. The shaft member has a guide part formed with an insertional hole through which the wire is inserted, and at least the guide part of the shaft member is turnable around the center axis of the shaft member, to both the two articulation wheels coupled by the shaft member. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100261964 | ARTICULATING ENDOSCOPES - The invention provides an articulating mechanism useful, for example, for remote manipulation of various surgical instruments and diagnostic tools within, or to, regions of the body. Movement of segments at the proximal end of the mechanism results in a corresponding, relative movement of segments at the distal end of the mechanism. The proximal and distal segments are connected by a set of cables in such a fashion that each proximal segment forms a discrete pair with a distal segment. This configuration allows each segment pair to move independently of one another and also permits the articulating mechanism to undergo complex movements and adopt complex configurations. The articulating mechanisms may also be combined in such a way to remotely mimic finger movements for manipulation of an object or body tissue. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100312056 | Endoscope shaft - An endoscope including a control section; and a shaft extending from the control section. The shaft includes a frame including a one-piece tube. The tube includes a plurality of slots into the tube along at least one length of the tube to form spaced sections on opposite sides of each slot. A first one of the sections comprises a projection which extends into a pocket of a second one of the sections such that the projection and pocket form an over-travel limiter to limit relative motion of the first and second sections relative to each other in at least one direction. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20110034771 | Endoscope resilient deflection section frame - An endoscope deflection section frame including a plurality of rings and leaf springs connecting the rings to one another. Each ring includes front and rear ends with slots, wherein the slots extend into front and rear sides of the rings entirely through a wall of the ring between an interior of the wall at a central channel of the ring and an opposite exterior of the wall. The leaf springs each have opposite ends located in the slots of respective adjacent ones of the rings. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110065993 | STEERABLE SEGMENTED ENDOSCOPE AND METHOD OF INSERTION - A steerable endoscope has an elongated body with a selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled proximal portion. The endoscope body is inserted into a patient and the selectively steerable distal portion is used to select a desired path within the patient's body. When the endoscope body is advanced, an electronic motion controller operates the automatically controlled proximal portion to assume the selected curve of the selectively steerable distal portion. Another desired path is selected with the selectively steerable distal portion and the endoscope body is advanced again. As the endoscope body is further advanced, the selected curves propagate proximally along the endoscope body, and when the endoscope body is withdrawn proximally, the selected curves propagate distally along the endoscope body. This creates a serpentine motion in the endoscope body allowing it to negotiate tortuous curves along a desired path through or around and between organs within the body. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110184241 | EXTENDABLE ARTICULATED PROBE DEVICE - An articulate probe device includes a first mechanism, a second mechanism, and an overtube mechanism. The first mechanism includes a proximal link which is movable coupled to a first intermediate link, a plurality of intermediate links, and a distal link which is moveably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links. The second mechanism includes a proximal link which is movable coupled to a first intermediate link, a plurality of intermediate links, and a distal link which is moveably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links. The overtube mechanism includes a proximal link which is movable coupled to a first intermediate link, a plurality of intermediate links, and a proximal link which is moveably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links. Further, at least one of the first mechanism, second mechanism, and overtube mechanism is steerable and extendable beyond the other mechanisms. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20120116166 | TWO-PART BENDING ENDOSCOPE - A two-part bending endoscope includes: a first bending part which configures one side of a bending portion; a second bending part which configures the other end side of the bending portion; and a bending portion operation apparatus including a first operation device for causing the first bending part to perform a bending action and a second operation device for causing the second bending part to perform a bending action, wherein the bending portion operation apparatus includes a selective power-transmitting mechanism section which enables at least a bending action of the first bending part by the first operation device, and an interlocking operation of the second bending part and the first bending part by the second operation device. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120130172 | Non-Metallic, Multi-Strand Control Cable for Steerable Instruments - Embodiments of the invention provide methods for inserting a non-metallic multi-strand braid through a coil tube. Techniques for bonding one end of a lead line to one end of a multi-strand non-metallic braid are provided. There are also embodiments of steerable instruments described having a plurality of hinged segments; a multi-strand non-metallic braid connected distally to one segment of the plurality of segments and proximally to an actuator; and a steering controller adapted to control the actuator to move the hinged segment using the multi-strand non-metallic braid. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120165608 | ENDOSCOPIC IMAGING SYSTEM - An endoscopic imaging system includes a reusable control cabinet having a number of actuators that control the orientation of a lightweight endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope is used with a single patient and is then disposed. The endoscope includes an illumination mechanism, an image sensor and an elongate shaft having one or more lumens located therein. A polymeric articulation joint at the distal end of the endoscope allows the distal end to be oriented by the control cabinet. The endoscope is coated with a hydrophilic coating that reduces its coefficient of friction and because it is lightweight, requires less force to advance it to a desired location within a patient. | 06-28-2012 |
| 20130035551 | ARTICULATING OPHTHALMIC SURGICAL PROBE - An articulating optical surgical probe includes a handle sized to fit in a single hand and a single rigid cannula extending from the handle having a diameter of 20 Ga or less. The probe further includes a slotted tip at a distal end of the cannula and at least one optical fiber extending through the handle, the single rigid cannula and the slotted tip, and a pull-wire secured to the slotted tip. When the pull-wire exerts tension on the slotted tip, the slotted tip will deviate from straight to a bend angle controlled by the tension in the pull-wire. The slotted tip is formed from a resilient material that will restore to the straight position when the tension exerted by the pull-wire is released. | 02-07-2013 |
| 20130158355 | TWO-WAY ENDOSCOPE STEERING MECHANISM AND FOUR-WAY ENDOSCOPE STEERING MECHANISM - The present invention discloses a two-way endoscope steering mechanism and four-way endoscope steering mechanism, and the two-way endoscope steering mechanism includes a hollow steering member, a two-way flexible plastic member and a guiding wire member. The hollow steering member has a hollow positioning portion and a connecting portion. The guiding wire member is passed and installed in the hollow positioning portion. The densely wound coil is coupled to an end of a steering module, and the steering module is formed by arranging and coupling the two-way flexible plastic member to the hollow steering member, and the densely wound coil is sheathed on the guiding wire member, such that the guiding wire member can be pulled to drive the steering module to turn in a direction. | 06-20-2013 |
| 20130261395 | ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS - The endoscope apparatus includes a heat exchanger, a first tube, and a second tube. The front-end portion is cooled down by repeating alternately, the other operation which is opposite an one operation, which is an operation of generating a flow of the cooling liquid from the other end of the first tube to the one end of the first tube, and a flow of the cooling liquid from the one end of the second tube to the other end of the second tube, and the one operation which is an operation of generating a flow of the cooling liquid from the other end of the second tube to the one end of the second tube, and a flow of the cooling liquid from the one end of the first tube to the other end of the first tube. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20140018627 | ENDOSCOPY APPARATUS HAVING HIGH DEGREE OF MOTION FREEDOM AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF - An endoscopy apparatus having high degree of motion freedom and the operating method thereof are disclosed. The endoscopy apparatus having high degree of motion freedom includes a multi-stage endoscopy module and a control module. The multi-stage endoscopy module includes at least a first endoscopy unit and a second endoscopy unit. The first endoscopy unit and the second endoscopy unit can provide a first bending and a second bending respectively. The second bending is larger than the first bending. When the multi-stage endoscopy module moves to a region near a target observing position, the control module will control the second endoscopy unit to generate slight deformation to observe a real-time state of the target observing position. | 01-16-2014 |
| 20140031625 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR STEERABLE MEDICAL DEVICE PATH DEFINITION AND FOLLOWING DURING INSERTION AND RETRACTION - Waypoints for a steerable medical device are stored as the steerable medical device is moved within a patient. The stored waypoints are an ordered sequence of locations. The ordered sequence of locations defines a safe path within the patient for moving an articulatable portion of the steerable medical device. The articulatable portion of the steerable medical device is constrained to follow the safe path as the articulatable portion moves within the patient. For example, the articulatable portion of the steerable medical device is constrained to remain within a boundary region enclosing the safe path as the articulatable portion of the steerable medical device follows the safe path. | 01-30-2014 |
| 20140114129 | Complex Shape Steerable Tissue Visualization and Manipulation Catheter - Complex steerable catheter visualization and tissue manipulation systems and their methods of use are disclosed herein. The deployment catheter is articulated using various steering mechanisms. Tissue visualization is accomplished from the visualization hood at the distal end of the deployment catheter, the hood having an ability to expand and other features to facilitate visualization and articulation at the tissue surface. | 04-24-2014 |
| 20140142388 | ENDOSCOPE - An insertion portion includes a holding member that holds an observation portion, and a tubular bending portion. A small-diameter portion of the holding member is fitted into an inside surface of a distal end side portion of the bending portion. A hole portion is provided in the bending portion. A concave portion is provided at the small-diameter portion. A screw member penetrates the hole portion by screw-fastening, and a distal end side thereof is housed in the concave portion. A diameter of the concave portion is larger than an outside diameter of the screw member. A length obtained by adding a depth of the concave portion and a thickness of the distal end side portion of the bending portion is greater than an axial direction length of the screw member. The screw member is held in a non-contacting state with respect to the concave portion in the hole portion. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140378767 | ENDOSCOPE BENDING MODULE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - Provided is a manufacturing method of a bending module that forms a plurality of joint members by press-processing sheet material, with each joint member having a joint member body, a connection protrusion and a wire guide protrusion having a wire guide hole formed at one side corner of the joint member body, and connection protrusion is formed at another side corner of the joint member body. The wire guide protrusions are folded with respect to the joint member bodies; a joint member assembly is formed by arranging the plurality of joint members in parallel and connecting neighboring connection members to connect the joint members together; the joint member assembly are bent to a ring shape; and each joint member is connect to each other by welding corners thereof. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20150320295 | ACTIVATED POLYMER ARTICULATED INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS OF INSERTION - An electro-polymeric articulated endoscope and method of insertion are described herein. A steerable endoscope having a segmented, elongated body with a manually or selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled proximal portion can be articulated by electro-polymeric materials. These materials are configured to mechanically contract or expand in the presence of a stimulus, such as an electrical field. Adjacent segments of the endoscope can be articulated using the electro-polymeric material by inducing relative differences in size or length of the material when placed near or around the outer periphery along a portion of the endoscope. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150359415 | Endoscope Control Unit with Braking System - A control unit that includes a braking system for fixing the position of an endoscope tip is provided. The control system includes an up-down control knob and a right-left control knob. The brakes are engaged by rotating the control knob itself counter-clockwise from a free wheeling position. After the brakes have been engaged, a sufficient amount of force applied to the control knobs will move the endoscope tip slightly in the corresponding direction, allowing for fine tuning of tip position after braking. | 12-17-2015 |
| 600142000 | Pivotally connected | 26 |
| 20080221393 | MEDICAL DEVICE WITH ARTICULATING SHAFT - A medical device ( | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080269562 | ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM WITH PIVOTABLE ARMS - An endoscopic surgery apparatus is provided, including a tubular member, a handle located on a proximal end of the tubular member, and one or more pivotable arms detachably connected to a distal end of the tubular member. The tubular member has channels along its longitudinal axis, wherein at least one of the channels is an optical channel and at least one other channel is an illumination channel. The arms have guiding channels adapted to receive surgical tools, which direct the surgical tools. The arms are interchangeable with other arms of different configurations. Also, said arms have an open and a closed position, such that when the arms are in the closed position an opening is defined allowing viewing of a surgical site via the optical channel. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20090099420 | SYSTEM FOR MANAGING BOWDEN CABLES IN ARTICULATING INSTRUMENTS - The present invention relates, generally, to the reduction or elimination of permanent and catastrophic herniations in Bowden cables or coil pipes in articulating devices or snake-like robots. More particularly, the present invention relates managing the coil pipes in a spiral pattern along the articulating device or snake-like robot to reduce or eliminate the necessity of the Bowden cables or coil pipes to slide along the length of the articulating device or snake-like robot. Reduction or elimination of the necessity for the Bowden cables or coil pipes to slide reduces or eliminates catastrophic herniations in articulating devices or snake-like robots undergoing one or more articulations. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090209819 | BENDING SECTION STRUCTURE OF ENDOSCOPE - First stepped portions are provided on both sides of each of two front-side projection portions of a front end portion of a node ring. Second stepped portions are provided on both sides of each of two rear-side projection portions of a rear end portion of the node ring. At a time of bending of a bending section, when two front and rear node rings of a bending tube are rotated to a maximum rotational position, the pivotal angle α between the front and rear node rings is restricted to a predetermined restriction angle that prevents, when the bending section is bend-operated, an outer sheath tube from being bitten between the node rings, by the restriction due to contact between the second stepped portion of the front-side node ring and the first stepped portion of the rear-side node ring. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20100010309 | ENDOSCOPE BEND TUBE AND ENDOSCOPE INCLUDING THE BEND TUBE - An endoscope bend tube includes a plurality of node rings, wherein contact portions at which neighboring ones of the node rings are pit in contact are provided between the neighboring node rings, and the plurality of node rings are coupled to be pivotable about pivotal center axes which correspond to pivotal centers of the contact portions, the endoscope bend tube includes an operation wire, a coupling wire, and a coupling wire hold portion, wherein in a case where the endoscope bend tube is in a non bent state, lead-out ends of the coupling wire hold portions, which are opposed between a pair of the neighboring node rings, are disposed at such positions that a line segment connecting the lead-out ends is halved by a plane including a center axis in a longitudinal direction of the bend tube and a pivotal center axis of the pair of the node rings. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100056868 | ENDOSCOPE BENDING PORTION - An endoscope bending portion includes bending parts coaxially arranged in a line and each of which includes a cylindrical portion, one bending part of both bending parts adjacent to each other includes a protruding portion integrated with the cylindrical portion and extended in a radial direction of the cylindrical portion, the other bending part of both the bending parts adjacent to each other includes a receiving portion integrated with the cylindrical portion and into which the protruding portion is inserted so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the protruding portion, and each of the bending parts includes a discontinuous portion extended so as to cross a peripheral direction of the cylindrical portion in the cylindrical portion and joined or unjoined. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100076266 | ARTICULATION JOINT FOR VIDEO ENDOSCOPE - A video endoscope system includes a reusable control cabinet and an endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope may be used with a single patient and then disposed. The endoscope includes an illumination mechanism, an image sensor, and an elongate shaft having one or more lumens located therein. An articulation joint at the distal end of the endoscope allows the distal end to be oriented by the actuators in the control cabinet or actuators in a control handle of the endoscope. Fluidics, electrical, navigation, image, display and data entry controls are integrated into the system along with other accessories. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100160736 | Medical Device With Articulating Shaft - A medical device ( | 06-24-2010 |
| 20110034772 | Endoscope riveted deflection section frame - An endoscope deflection section frame including a plurality of rings and rivets. Each ring has front ears and rear ears with rivet holes through the ears. The rivets are located in the rivet holes to thereby pivotably connect the rings to one another. Each rivet includes a head at an interior side of an inner one of the ears and an opposite end at an exterior side of an outer one of the ears. The opposite end is welded to the outer ear. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110071356 | Repeatably flexible surgical instrument - A flexible-shaft surgical instrument is provided that can be repeatably bent to one or more desired angles on demand by a user without the use of a special bending tool. The flexible-shaft surgical instrument can be repeatably bent and re-bent into multiple positions without plastic deformation of the flexible-shaft surgical instrument occurring in any of one or more bend portions. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110237890 | MODULAR AND COOPERATIVE MEDICAL DEVICES AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to modular medical devices, including various devices with detachable modular components and various devices with pivotally attached modular components. Additional embodiments relate to procedures in which various of the devices are used cooperatively. Certain embodiments of the medical devices are robotic in vivo devices. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110313251 | ENDOSCOPE BENDING PORTION AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF BENDING TUBE - Each of the first hinge portions includes a first central planar portion, and first both-sides planar portion, and each of second hinge portions includes a second central planar portion, and second both-sides planar portion which is arranged on the same plane as the first both-sides planar portion. At least one of each first hinge portion and each second hinge portion includes/include an axial step portion which is provided between the first central planar portion and the first both-sides planar portion and/or between the second central planar portion and the second both-sides planar portion over the entire length of the nodal ring in the longitudinal direction and allows/allow the first central planar portion to be arranged to an outer peripheral side than the second central planar portion by a distance corresponding to a wall thickness of the nodal ring. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20120041266 | SHAFT ELEMENT FOR AN ENDOSCOPIC INSTRUMENT - A shaft element for an endoscopic instrument includes a first, proximal shaft segment and a second, distal shaft segment, such that the second shaft segment is connected with the first shaft segment by three connecting elements, such that the connecting elements each include a first two-axis joint, such that the first joints form a triangle and such that the first connecting element is connected with the first shaft segment in such a way that it cannot slide with respect to the latter in a longitudinal direction, and a second and third connecting elements can each be slid with respect to the first shaft segment in a longitudinal direction independently of one another. The invention also relates to an endoscopic instrument, in particular an endoscope with such a shaft segment. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120220831 | SURGICAL TOOL HAVING POSITIVELY POSITIONABLE TENDON-ACTUATED MULTI-DISK WRIST JOINT - The present invention is directed to a tool having a wrist mechanism that provides pitch and yaw rotation in such a way that the tool has no singularity in roll, pitch, and yaw. A positively positionable multi-disk wrist mechanism includes a plurality of disks or vertebrae stacked in series. Each vertebra is configured to rotate in pitch or in yaw with respect to each neighboring vertebra. Actuation cables are used to manipulate and control movement of the vertebrae. In specific embodiments, some of the cables are distal cables that extend from a proximal vertebra through one or more intermediate vertebrae to a distal vertebra, while the remaining cables are medial cables that extend from the proximal vertebra to one or more of the intermediate vertebrae. The cables are actuated by a pivoted plate cable actuator mechanism. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120245418 | METHOD FOR FORMING AN ENDOSCOPE ARTICULATION JOINT - In one aspect, the present invention is an articulation joint for use in a low cost medical device such as an endoscope intended for a single use. In one embodiment, the articulation joint comprises a plurality of interconnected segments. In another embodiment, the articulation joint comprises an elongated tubular body. In another aspect, the present invention provides methods of manufacturing an articulation joint for use in a medical device. | 09-27-2012 |
| 20120271109 | STEERABLE ENDOSCOPE AND IMPROVED METHOD OF INSERTION - A steerable endoscope has an elongated body with a selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled proximal portion. The endoscope body is inserted into a patient and the selectively steerable distal portion is used to select a desired path within the patient's body. When the endoscope body is advanced, an electronic motion controller operates the automatically controlled proximal portion to assume the selected curve of the selectively steerable distal portion. Another desired path is selected with the selectively steerable distal portion and the endoscope body is advanced again. As the endoscope body is further advanced, the selected curves propagate proximally along the endoscope body, and when the endoscope body is withdrawn proximally, the selected curves propagate distally along the endoscope body. This creates a serpentine motion in the endoscope body that allows it to negotiate tortuous curves along a desired path through, around, and between organs within the body. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20130041224 | ENDOSCOPE - An endoscope includes an active bending portion provided in an insertion portion and bendable according to a bending operation, the active bending portion including bending pieces adjacent to each other and pivotably connected together via a plurality of rotation shafts, the rotation shafts being located at positions differing by 90° in a circumferential direction J of the bending pieces, and a passive bending portion provided closer to the proximal end side than the active bending portion and passively bendable when an external force is applied thereto, the passive bending portion including bending pieces adjacent to each other and pivotably connected together via a plurality of rotation shafts, the rotation shafts being located at positions differing by 60° in the circumferential direction J. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130150673 | ENDOSCOPE - An endoscope includes an insertion portion including a bending portion configured to bend in four directions, and a flexible tube portion provided so as to be continuous with the bending portion, wherein the bending portion includes a first bending region and a second bending region, and wherein the flexible tube portion comprises inside, four first guide pipes each including a distal end fixed to a distal end of the first bending region and a proximal end fixed to a bending portion operation device, and three second guide pipes each including a distal end fixed to a distal end of the second bending region and a proximal end fixed to a bending portion bent shape switching device. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20130261396 | ARTICULATION JOINT FOR A MEDICAL DEVICE - A video endoscope system includes a reusable control cabinet and an endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope may be used with a single patient and then disposed. The endoscope includes an illumination mechanism, an image sensor, and an elongate shaft having one or more lumens located therein. An articulation joint at the distal end of the endoscope allows the distal end to be oriented by the actuators in the control cabinet or actuators in a control handle of the endoscope. Fluidics, electrical, navigation, image, display and data entry controls are integrated into the system along with other accessories. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130261397 | ARTICULATING TORQUEABLE HOLLOW DEVICE - An articulating mechanism for use in a medical device, such as an endoscope or a catheter, includes a series of stacked links disposed adjacent to one another and movable with respect to each other. Each link includes a front face tapered to a pair of pivot points and a rear face defining a wedge shaped recess for receiving the pivot points of the adjacent link. Pull-wires provide tension and hold the staked links together while also allowing for controlled bending of the distal portion by movement of one or more of the pull-wires. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130289352 | ARTICULATION JOINT FOR VIDEO ENDOSCOPE - A video endoscope system includes a reusable control cabinet and an endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope may be used with a single patient and then disposed. The endoscope includes an illumination mechanism, an image sensor, and an elongate shaft having one or more lumens located therein. An articulation joint at the distal end of the endoscope allows the distal end to be oriented by the actuators in the control cabinet or actuators in a control handle of the endoscope. Fluidics, electrical, navigation, image, display and data entry controls are integrated into the system along with other accessories. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20140024898 | Endoscope Riveted Deflection Section Frame - An endoscope deflection section frame including a plurality of rings and rivets. Each ring has front ears and rear ears with rivet holes through the ears. The rivets are located in the rivet holes to thereby pivotably connect the rings to one another. Each rivet includes a head at an interior side of an inner one of the ears and an opposite end at an exterior side of an outer one of the ears. The opposite end is welded to the outer ear. | 01-23-2014 |
| 20140121461 | STEERABLE ENDOSCOPE AND IMPROVED METHOD OF INSERTION - A steerable endoscope has an elongated body with a selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled proximal portion. The endoscope body is inserted into a patient and the selectively steerable distal portion is used to select a desired path within the patient's body. When the endoscope body is advanced, an electronic motion controller operates the automatically controlled proximal portion to assume the selected curve of the selectively steerable distal portion. Another desired path is selected with the selectively steerable distal portion and the endoscope body is advanced again. As the endoscope body is further advanced, the selected curves propagate proximally along the endoscope body, and when the endoscope body is withdrawn proximally, the selected curves propagate distally along the endoscope body. This creates a serpentine motion in the endoscope body that allows it to negotiate tortuous curves along a desired path through, around, and between organs within the body. | 05-01-2014 |
| 20140180009 | BENDING PORTION AND ENDOSCOPE - A bending portion includes: a bending piece set in which a plurality of bending pieces are continuously provided by forming a convex portion on a first bending piece and a concave portion on a second bending piece by cutting a rigid pipe, the convex portion and the concave portion forming an engagement portion that pivotably couples adjacent bending pieces to each other, wherein a first engagement portion includes: a first convex portion formed on the first bending piece and including a first peripheral portion serving as a first pivoting surface; and a first concave portion formed on the second bending piece and including a first inner circumferential portion on which the first peripheral portion slides, and the first engagement portion has, in the first peripheral portion, a tapered surface having an outer diameter that becomes smaller from a bending piece inner surface side toward a bending piece outer surface side. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20160174816 | STEERABLE, FOLLOW THE LEADER DEVICE | 06-23-2016 |
| 20170231473 | ARTICULATING TORQUEABLE HOLLOW DEVICE | 08-17-2017 |
